1. New Images

Colors of Paris

Some of my favorite images of Paris from a week in October in 2011. Friends, Michel & Chantal, who live there, took us on three days of guided tours of their favorite places in Paris.
Read More
  • The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower

    Eiffel Tower Facts. Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well known structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the World's Fair in 1889. It is named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company was in charge of the project. 1. Who built the Eiffel Tower? The Eiffel Tower, as the name might suggest, was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel's engineering company, Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel. Contrary to popular belief, however, Eiffel himself has very little to do with the tower's design and actual construction. The tower was designed by two of Eiffel's senior engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier. The tower's design came about after a discussion about a suitable centerpiece for the 1889 Paris Exposition. BIOGRAPHY Alexandre Gustave Eiffel: Magician of Iron This exposition was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Eiffel would later acknowledge that the tower's design was inspired by the Latting Observatory built in New York City, 1853. The Eiffel Tower was inspired by the Latting Observatory in New York. 2. The Eiffel Tower was to be taken down in 1909 The Eiffel Tower was originally constructed for the 1889 Paris Exposition. It was specifically intended as the grand entrance to the Exposition and was not meant to be a permanent feature of the Parisian skyline. After its official inauguration in March of 1889, the tower was supposed to stand for 20 years and be dismantled in 1909. This was the total time limit awarded to Eiffel for his permit to build it. Once ownership reverted to the City of Paris the original plan was to dismantle it. In fact, part of the original competition rules was for the winning structure to be easily dismantled. But as it provided a great radio antenna it was allowed to remain standing after the permit's expiration. 3. Over 250 million people visited the Eiffel Tower In 2015, The Eiffel Tower was the world's most popular paid monument. According to statistics around 6.91 million tourists visited the famous tower that year. It is estimated that around 250 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since it officially opened in 1889. It is also estimated that around 25,000 visitors ascend the tower each and every day. This volume of tourists inevitably results in long queues. You can buy tickets online to avoid long waiting times of course. 4. The Eiffel Tower never capitulated In June of 1940, the Nazi war machine triumphantly entered the streets of Paris to begin their rule over the city with an iron fist. Before the tanks and soldiers arrived almost 2 million Parisians managed to flee. Those who remained were to begin their long period of underground resistance with one small, but significant act of defiance. The cables to the lift of the Eiffel Tower were severed so that Hitler would need to climb the steps to reach the top of the tower. But the embarrassment for the Nazi's wouldn't end there. German soldiers also had to climb the tower to hoist a swastika over it. This was very large and blew away only hours later. This was later replaced by a much smaller one. The Tower would remain closed during the Occupation and the lift was finally repaired in 1946. 5. The Eiffel tower Was 'Sold' by a Con Artist The Eiffel Tower was actually once "sold" by a con artist to a scrap metal dealer. The con man in question was one Victor Lustig and his actions would forever label him as "the man who sold the Eiffel Tower". He originally hit on the idea for the con when reading an article about the dilapidation of the Eiffel Tower in 1925. At this time maintenance for the tower had become very expensive and nuisance for the city. Seeing an opportunity he forged some official credentials, met some scrap dealers and tricked them out of a large sum of money. He even managed to do it a second time before fleeing to the U.S. to avoid arrest. 6. The Eiffel Tower Should Have Stood in Barcelona The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be built in Barcelona, not Paris. The tower's design was rejected by the Spanish, to the great gain of the French. Of course, in hindsight, this has proved a very costly mistake for Spain. It would be interesting indeed to see Barcelona as the home for this now iconic monument. The Eiffel Tower is estimated to be worth around 400 Billion Euros. Apparently, this is around six times that of the Colosseum in Rome and more than the Tower of London. Barcelona was almost the home of the Eiffel Tower. Source: 7. The Eiffel Tower grows in the summer Did you know that the Eiffel Tower actually varies in height by around 15 cm throughout the year depending on the temperature? This should probably come as no surprise considering the tower is made up almost entirely of metal. So as the average temperature fluctuates throughout the year so too does the height of the tower as the metal expands and contracts. Not just that but the top of the tower might also shift away from the sun by as much as 18 cm due to thermal expansion on the side facing it. 8. Eiffel Tower and Hot Air Balloons Do Not Mix Inventor Franz Reichelt killed himself when trying to test his design for a parachute. He was an Austrian-born tailer who lived in France during the turn of the century. During the 1890's and 1900's the age of aviation had begun with hot air balloons and airships becoming ever more popular. Franz like many other budding inventors got caught up in the hysteria surrounding this exciting field of developing the technology. By around 1910 there was a growing concern about safety for air travel with many looking to increase the survivability of pilots and passengers alike. Functional fixed-canopy parachute already existed by this time with other examples that were proven to work from high altitude. What was needed was a design for low altitude. Colonel Lalance of the Aero-Club de France offered a 10,000 Franc reward for anyone who could develop a parachute that weighed less than 25 kgs. Reichelt thought he'd nailed it with his design and decided to test it from one of the world's most iconic monuments... 9. You Will Climb 1,665 Steps to the Third Level If like the Nazi's in WW2, Parisians decide to cut the cables to the lift it's a pretty long walk up the tower. In total there are around 1,665 steps that need to be climbed to get to the very top of the Eiffel Tower. But this official figure will only get you from the ground floor to the third level. You are only officially allowed to climb the Eiffel Tower by foot up to the second floor. Ascending the staircase to the first floor takes around half an hour, depending on your age and level of fitness of course. Of course, you might just find yourself getting distracted by the views or the majesty of the tower itself. 10. The Eiffel Tower is married So boys and girls the Eiffel Tower is not on the market. This might sound like an obvious thing to say, after all its a tower of metal, but this didn't stop one Erika La Tour from starting a relationship with it. She even married the tower in 2007. She is a self-described "objectum sexual" and one whose heart has been stolen by the famous Parisian landmark. The Eiffel Tower is not her first romantic attachment to an object, however. She had previously fallen in love with Lance (which was actually a bow) with which she actually became an archery champion. 11. The Eiffel tower uses 20,000 light bulbs at night To anyone who has seen the tower by night they can attest to how impressive it looks lit up. But have you ever wondered just how many light bulbs it takes to light up the tower? According to official statistics the Eiffel Tower uses around 20,000 light bulbs. It is also illegal to publish any photographs of the Tower when it is lit up at night. This is because, according to EU Copyright Law, the lighting design is a work of art in and of itself. Thus anyone who publishes photo will need to seek the permission of the Société Nouvelle d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel. Of course, this is likely to be very difficult to actually enforce.

  • MA - Michel - Chantal (Our personal guides in Paris)

    MA - Michel - Chantal (Our personal guides in Paris)

    We are in a Creperie about to order a crepe for supper. It was a chance to sit for a while and have a bite to eat.

  • Parisian Sidewalk Cafe

    Parisian Sidewalk Cafe

    20111029_Paris_Morning_Coffee_Cafe_RAW6986

  • The Louvre Pyramid

    The Louvre Pyramid

    The pyramid used as an entrance in the Louvre's courtyard has the exact same proportions as the Great Pyramid of Giza. The choice of this figure also serves as a reminder of the importance of the Egyptian antiquities collection inside the museum, as does the Obelisk in Place de la Concorde not far from there, the other side of the Jardin des Tuileries. At its base, the pyramid measures 116 feet wide and 70 feet high. 95 tons of steel and 105 tons of aluminum support the structure. The glass panes of the pyramids are made up of diamonds and triangles. This mixture creates the triangular form in irregular proportions, which creates the appearance of cut jewels. Designed by I. M. Pei, the great pyramid was hugely unpopular when it was built. As soon as the project was announced, it was accused of disfiguring the architecture. In what direction was the museum headed? Officially consisting of 673 glass panes, it is commonly reported that there are in fact 666. This is the number of the demon and the beast in the Apocalypse.

  • Le Twickenham Bar Brasserie

    Le Twickenham Bar Brasserie

    A "brasserie" is an informal restaurant with a large selection of drinks.

  • The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower

    2011029_Paris_Eife_Tower_Sun_RAW7008a

  • Pont des Arts

    Pont des Arts

    The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge across the River Seine in Paris. It was known as the "love lock bridge" because so many couples would put a lock on the side rails and throw the key into the Seine. This photo was taken in 2011 and you can see the locks are still there. In 2015 the City of Paris removed the grated rails loaded with 45 tons of locks and replaced them with plexiglass sides.

  • Sitting on the Bank of the Seine

    Sitting on the Bank of the Seine

    20111027_Paris_Seine_River_Bank_RAW7035

  • Popular Meeting Place on the Seine

    Popular Meeting Place on the Seine

    20111027_Paris_River_Bank_Gathering_Place_RAW7036

  • Paris Metro Stop:  Abbesses

    Paris Metro Stop: Abbesses

    Abbesses is a station on Paris Métro Line 12, in the Montmartre district. It is one of the three remaining Art Nouveau entrances in Paris.Hector Guimard created the Art Nouveau canopies for the newly built Metropolitain, at the turn of the 20th century. Art Nouveau, or Modern Style, was indeed the architectural and artistic style of the years 1890 to 1910. It focused on natural forms and structures and used profusion of intertwined flowers and plants to create elegant curves.

  • Young Love

    Young Love

    2011025_Paris_Seine_River_Couple-Lovers_Park_Bench_RAW7100

  • Pont des Arts Bridge

    Pont des Arts Bridge

    Pont des Arts (The Famous Love Lock Bridge in Paris) The Pont des Arts connects the Institut de France with The Louvre. The bridge was originally constructed in 1804 during the reign of Napoleon. The original Pont des Arts suffered two aerial bombardments during World War I and II, as well as numerous collisions with boats before collapsing in 1979 after a ship rammed into it. The present-day bridge was built in 1984 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the rest of the Seine Riverfront in Paris. The Pont des Arts is a popular spot for picnics and open-air art studios. The bridge’s position along the Seine River and The Louvre makes it a popular spot for photographers as well. The Pont des Arts is most famous for being the Lock Bridge in Paris. Visitors to the bridge attach personalized padlocks to its railing and throw the keys away in the Seine River. Despite the government of Paris removing many of the locks in 2015, over a million more (approximately 45 tons) have been placed on the bridge since then.

  • Changing Trees of the Seine

    Changing Trees of the Seine

    20111025_Paris_Trees_Turning_Color_RAW7113

  • Perle Bis Flower Shop

    Perle Bis Flower Shop

    20111027_Paris_Perle_bis_Flower_Shop_RAW7039

  • Boulangerie Maison Martin Depuis estab: 1968

    Boulangerie Maison Martin Depuis estab: 1968

    A boulangerie is a French bakery that actually makes its own bread on the premises.

  • Aux Tours de Notre Dame

    Aux Tours de Notre Dame

    20111027_Paris_Aux_Tours_de_Notre_Dame_Cafe_RAW7041

  • Le Royal Tussieu

    Le Royal Tussieu

    20111029_Paris_Le_Royal_Tussieu_Hotel_RAW7305

  • 20111027_Paris_Eifel_Tower_&_Carosel_RAW7656_2

    20111027_Paris_Eifel_Tower_&_Carosel_RAW7656_2

  • Left Bank News Stand

    Left Bank News Stand

    20111027_Paris_Left_Bank_Art_RAW7715

  • Notre Dame Cathedral

    Notre Dame Cathedral

    20111027_Paris_Notre_Dame_tourists_RAW7718

  • Notre Dame Side View

    Notre Dame Side View

    Paris_Notre_Dame_close-up_RAW7064

  • Eiffel Tower

    Eiffel Tower

    20111028_Paris_Eifel_Tower_Flowers_Foreground_RAW7730a

  • Sidewalk Fruit Stand

    Sidewalk Fruit Stand

    20111028_Paris_Fruit_Stand_RAW7768

  • Le Champ de Mars Brasserie

    Le Champ de Mars Brasserie

    20111028_Paris_Le_Champ_de_Mars_Brasserie_RAW7769

  • Eiffel Tower

    Eiffel Tower

    20111028_Paris_Eifel_Tower_framed_Tree_RAW7771

  • Hotel des Ivalides and Napoleon's Tomb

    Hotel des Ivalides and Napoleon's Tomb

    20111028_Paris_Musee_de_Armee_Dome_des_Invalides_Napoleons_Tomb_RAW7798

  • The Louvre Pyramid

    The Louvre Pyramid

    20111028_Paris_Louve_Pyramid_RAW7824

  • Paris_Left-Bank_Art Notre_Dame_RAW7871

    Paris_Left-Bank_Art Notre_Dame_RAW7871

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2021 SmugMug, Inc.